Back when suburbia was being created everyone saw these small neighborhoods coming up with names like Vista Meadows and Shalimar Park, these silly names were devised by housing developers to give you a sense of belonging somewhere a bit more substantial rather than a housing track which in reality is where you were purchasing a house. It was all about prestige nevermind that these communities were designed, marketed and sold with a singular intent and the bottom line. If you have watched any number of horror movies about houses they seem to always be built on some one elses land - I digress....
On a neighborhood level the template looks pretty good - increased property values etal... so why wouldn't you want to step up on the status ladder... BUT... what happens when a template is designed for the purpose of uniformity and predicability?
Demographics changes - actually the whole field of demographics becomes a lot easier if state laws are written to predetermine an outcome in almost any type of marketing. From campaign to test products, the ease in which a company can manipulate the outcome is awe inspiring. So, take that another step - what if several states had the same state laws - on a conspiracy level why seperate those states if they all have the same laws - you now have a block of states which could actually be called a National Chain.
I don't know if the media understood what they were doing when they started turning states into red states and blue states during elections but the effect was to simplify the map or use it as a template for ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council).
A template by definition : something that establishes or serves as a pattern - Imagine the possiblities of owning a state template.
Maybe this was the natural progression of the type of mentality we have adopted as Americans - easy button government.
Resist Alec and make your state representatives serve your local community.
How does someone introduce legislation - ever ask yourself how that process works? I have and I have discovered that it's quite difficult for an individual. A few years ago I determined that corporate money needs to be removed from Federal and State Governments - apparently I wasn't alone. With the 2010 Governors onslaught it became even more apparent whilst watching the money being poured into the RGA (Republican Governors Association) and than the agenda post elections. Personally, I think they could have been a bit more circumspect but they chose to take action in tandem, a show of force I suppose. How do people initiate Campaign Finance Reform while the beneficiaries are in office? It's a bit self perpetuating - you donate money to a candidate who is willing to fight for 'CFR' who has now taken money to be able to win and fight for a cause that is not in their best 'personal' interest. Hmmm....
We've spiraled into a Twilight Zone episode...
How are we to expect our currently elected representatives to initiate real campaign finance reform when their very jobs depends on money they will get to run a campaign and that money comes from well, special interest groups, PACS, C4 PACS and groups to numerous to list.
My first idea:
Limit campaign spending to a year salary of the office they are running for and give them 9 months to make their case.
Doesn't really resolve the campaign donation issues - just limits how much they can spend. So, technically it would still be very easy for a benefactor to purchase a legislator - just cheaper.
Why is it so easy to buy a representative - everything is already outlined for them. Just introduce the model laws and we will do the rest...
...- it's good to have enough money to buy state legislators - pretty lazy lawmakers when they have Washington think tanks write their state laws.
The GOP are representing their constituents - somewhat obligated aren't they since they were paid fair and square to give their donors their monies worth. You want representation? Form a PAC or non-profit 'think tank' and write laws for State and Federal legislators to introduce laws on your behalf. I'm thinking the Senate/House need a pay deduction since they stopped writing legislation - introducing laws is far different from writing them.
I think it explains all too well how the State of Arizona ended up with a Governor Brewer but it could be said of Dems as well.
I was thinking that it isn't such a good idea to fight fire with fire - sometimes water works and for electrical fires use foam. The money in politcs has to be have a cap and frankly there will be no legislation in the near future to address the issue so how can a candidate expect to win without financing?
My candidate has more money than your candidate so that is an automatic validation that my candidate is better than yours - more people are willing to buy mine. In essence I have a better product because 8 of 10 campaign PACS are willing to donate to mine.
Could it be a mindset? You will only believe what you hear on the radio, tube, internet that validates what you have already been told?
Back to my first idea - why not elaborate on limiting spending of a candidate to the year salary of the office they are running for? Let's say that we also put into effect some of the model legislation from Great Britain and take Campaign Finance Reform to the next level - action.
Representation of the People Act of 1983 - Sections 72 to 90 control the total election expenses that can be spent on behalf of a candidate.
During the time limit of the election, all money spent on the promotion of a candidate must be authorized by his election agent. This includes the cost of holding public meetings, organising public displays, issuing advertisements, circulars, or otherwise presenting the candidate's views and the extent or nature of his backing or disparaging another candidate. It does not include travel expenses from home or similar personal expenses.
The expenses limit for the campaign (which is enforceable due to it all having to be authorized by one person) is £100,000 for a parliamentary by-election, but is approximately £5,483 plus either 6.2p or 4.6p for every registered voter in the district.
Reminder - every conflict must have an exit strategy...
Ugly, unethical realities have been baltantly shoved in our face like a banner of pride because after all "IT IS WHAT IT IS" - You know what IT is? Has anyone bothered to define IT? Is IT in a Wiki FAQ? Google IT?
IT is complacency - a simple whatever, oh well, nothing I can do acceptance to anything and everything that comes down from the 'decision makers' who must know more than average Americans because... wait, it will come to me.
I thought about listing everything that has occured over the last few years but frankly there are only a few that should have given everyone a bit of a jolt, a wake up call, a red flag enough to say "Wait a minute, that's just crazy 'Put Edwina back in the bowl'!"
Back in the Shock and Awe election of 2010 the GOP waged a war strategy upon the American public - worse than a little mind control - the strategy was intended to draw out their base but it did something much more - it drew out crazy accusations (did you listen to what they were saying?) and apparently every governor was running against President Obama.
A little attention deficit disorder or short memory span hitting you about now? Did you know that President Obama was a socialist, compared to hitler, fascist, democracy hating, muslim who had a forged birth certificate that apparently was created in Hawaii in 1961?
Well, that certainly is what it is...
How about ALEC model legislation for the states brought to you by your friends who hate Washington DC politics but just so happen to live in Washington DC and are funded by Democracy loving Corporate individuals who have no problem outsourcing their jobs overseas. Your elected Local Government Legislators who just so happen to be card carrying members of ALEC conveniently 'borrow' and change a word or two to enable laws that have nothing to do with your community.
IT IS WHAT IS!
It's quite alright and well legally binding for certain, shall we say body cells of the corporate individual to have contracts but when it comes to average collective bargaining for workers it's wrong! The disparity will be realized when only an indivdual can have a contract that is legally binding. It's not that anyone wants to deny you personally a contract, we just don't think you should have a group contract - way to socialist don't you think?
IT is not good
And then there is Illegal Immigration - the cause that has everyone raving that 'they' will bring their crime to our doorsteps and no one will be safe inside their home. We must irradicate 'them', incarcerate them for they are criminals taking our jobs, our subsidized healthcare, our free education, they are CRIMINALS and MUST BE INCARCERATED and then returned and we have to do it on a STATE level.... really? BEDS BABY BEDS and so the need to contract private prisons and stock those private prisons with lawbreaking CRIMINALS - We need more laws just so we can turn a profit for our stockholders.
Complacency rules - so take another pill and be sure to anesthetize the kids - fasten your seatbelts because I don't think we've seen half of the ugly...
I was reminded today of something I hadn't really thought of to date. Maximillian, Napolean III, defaulting on debt and Cinco de Mayo. Does anyone really understand the consequences of defaulting on debt? In 1861 Mexico declared that they would default on their national debt (a debt they accrued way back when they declared their independence from Spain). Unlike a debtors prison or a debt ceiling cap - Mexico was invaded by France, England and Spain coalition forces (the countries that Mexico owed money to). England and Spain settled with Mexico taking a loss while France wanted the entire amount owed them. So, they proceeded to take over. Granted this occured back when invading a country for money owed was the norm.
Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) the day when rebel forces were victorious over the French military in the Battle of Puebla and is actually considered a regional holiday for more go to Cinco de Mayo.
With everyone yelling DEFAULT, DEFAULT has anyone really thought about the consequences of defaulting on a national debt? I seriousely doubt we would be invaded in a militaristic style but I do believe our government would be visited by 'International Advisors'. Would these advisors instruct our national government about monetary matters? I think so and would our government have to comply with their advice? Most likely. Will Greece be compelled to comply with 'International Advisors'? I'm sure. The IMF will not allow the USA to default on debt - we will all pay a heavy price.
To this end, this lowly, unrepresented American living in the Repressive State of AZ suggests that yelling DEFAULT isn't in the general interest of average Americans. I also submit that penalizing the poorest people in this country 98% while allowing the top 2% to continue to go unscathed is a formula that hasn't worked throughout history. There IS power in numbers.
I feel like I live in a national chain restaurant - State Arizona by the makers of State Laws - copyright by ALEC - 'the people who know what you need in your community'.
Where I have been so very dismayed in the past at the lack of actual writing Legislators do I really didn't have much of a problem with mirroring what other states try. What I do have a problem with and will continue to have a problem with is a Washington DC purchased Think Tank organization like ALEC writing Arizona State Laws. In These Times author Beau Hodai has been kind enough to research ALEC in Publicopoly Exposed - MUST READ article. Nothing is what it appears to be -
Okay... Now that we have established that our state government is being run by a couple of think tanks in Washington one has to wonder who put the cap on the bottle. Where I am surprised that Gov. Brewer vetoed the 'birther' bill and the 'guns on campus' bill I'm baffled as to why?
Politcal expediency? Yes there is a recall petition, yes it's getting signatures, yes AZ has a history of recalling and impeaching Governors (specifically GOP governors) and yes the AZLEG as the power to (2/3 majority vote) upend her veto. So...
she wants to remain Governor or did Senate President Pierce push the bar to low? Did ALEC and the RGA push to hard/fast for their agenda or was a cease fire called. Hmmm... seems there maybe a shift in strategy. From where I'm sitting it would be nice if someone (preferably in a leadership role) stood up to these organizations (think tank corporate individuals) and said "Wait! AZ can't be the GOP's test dummy all the time - you will have to use other states too, y'all are killing our economy!" but that's just wishful thinking.
No, something else has occured behind the curtains - somewhat wondering what that could be... Chamber of Commerce maybe, businesses saying 'stop it you fools, you are making us look really bad.' I don't think that's it... no, let's get back to the RECALL PETITIONS and how Governor Brewer and her lackeys (possibly vice versa) have managed to take an already bad economy from 2008 and stretch the outcome.
I'm thinking Ohio, Georgia and Florida should take over for awhile and give the people of Arizona a break - summer's on it's way and folks here don't really like being agitated in the summer.
When a plan works it's usually a beautiful thing - this not so much. It's become obvious to me that the GOP Governors have a Master Plan and they are diligently carrying out their directives. It's not really a Conspiracy when they are really are out to get you. Back in August 2010 both the Republican Governors Assciations and the Democrat Governors Association received contributions - according to OpenSecrets the Democrats received contributions from AFSCME (Public Workers Union) and the AFT (Teachers Union) while the Republicans received contributions from Koch Industries and News Corp (FOX) which isn't that surprising. What is surprising is the amount in contributions - 12% increase for Democrats and 109% increase for Republicans $9 million to $19 million. - NOTE: Remembering these are Governors Associations.
Yet what is money without a plan? Just a simple investment? Nope - There is a plan which we are seeing played out daily - What's wrong with a little game of War played out on Americans by a political party? Politics is War anyway right? When the GOP decided to bombard the general electorate with shock and awe, say anything extremists should not a red flag have gone up?
The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene - 14 Overwhelm with Speed and Suddeness, 21 Negotiate while Advancing, 23 Weave a seamless blend of Fact and Fiction
When 16 states introduce similar laws at the same time it's not a coincidence it's a tactic. I like Naomi Klein's statement about a "Corporate Coup d'etat" in reference to the deliberate attempt to privatize our communities. What essentially is wrong with privatizing public services? Hmmm...
Someone still has to pay and I prefer to pay taxes for services that are not about shareholder profit. It's really that simple. When companies take over a service their bottom line is the shareholder - not you, not the service they provide - they have to show a profit not to mention the cost of doing business with a State/City Government. There is NO cost saving involved.
Who do these Elected officials serve? Why their constituency of course and they are up for sale to the highest bidders.
BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE...
Focusing on the RGA I have apparently overlooked ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) which goes back to my first question about SB1070 and FAIR and the tangled mess of CCA and private prisons - oh my... the plot thickens while I am still looking for a backer for Campaign Finance Reform and getting a referendum on a ballot? Can I do this myself without a sponsor - I don't think so BUT then can I simply register a non-profit 'Think Tank' and sponsor a bill?
I registered to run for Phoenix City Council in 2009 - I made it for 3 months and when I went to collect signatures I found out that I had other problems that required surgery. That was the end of that - I couldn't walk around without being in pain and I had to get healthcare coverage. The one thing that I did discover running for political office in my short experience is that I had a limit of $500 (and I was determined to stay inside that limit) before I had to start reporting spending every 2 weeks and I had to form an election committee.
Next thing I learned from the experience was that Sal DiCiccio raised $265,000 for a job that pays approximately $60,000 a year and I didn't have a chance in hell, I mean really my resume wasn't as impressive as Dana Kennedy's and she got ripped apart - very ugly process.
I proposed a question as to why we (the state of Az or the USA for that matter) don't adopt campaign finance reform and tonight I discovered the core reason and it's pretty disturbing. First the suggestion (and if anyone wants to sponsor a bill let me know):
All candidates running for an elected office be limited to spending the equivelant of a year salary for the office they are running for and run the campaign for 9 months prior to the election. Seems easy enough right - You want to run for City Council than you get a limit of $60,000 to spend on your campaign, you use volunteers instead of paid staff, and you get to account for who contributes to your campaign.
This doesn't fit in very well with our current system of elections - in fact - it doesn't fit in at all. I could rant for days on this but the fact is that only some of the people in City and State Government actually are representing their districts while most are representing their 'sponsors'.
The recent events in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Arizona ... etal shows me that we have actually allowed our governments to abandon representational government completely and it's gone insane. Never have I ever been made so aware of exactly how things work and it is 'IN YOUR FACE'.
How is that Governors from different states can come together and create a war strategy against the working class people of this country? How is that these Governors can all pass tax breaks for corporations and take away 'entitlements' from the people who have paid the most into the system? This is crazy and I mean really crazy.
It's not a coincindence that Collective Bargaining was attacked in several states at one time. According to OpenSecrets.org AFSME and the AFT (American Federation of Teachers) contributed to the Democratic Governors Association while Koch Industries and News Corp. (FOX) contributed substantially more to the Republican Governors Association - we don't have to wait for another Civil War. Campaign Finance Reform will stop this immediately and it has to be stopped. No one organization or corporate individual should be allowed to dicate the policies of a block of states.
The Federal Government has to step into this fray soon or those Red and Blue states will be renaming themselves here soon.
Feasibility: capable of being done or carried out <a feasible plan>... granted you don't need a study to determine if something is going to work every time you go to initiate a new idea or law BUT when it comes to expenses it might be a good idea to pretty much determine if something is feasible prior to making an investment. State Immigration Reform is an investment and interestingly enough no one seems to know exactly how it's suppose to work.
I went to see '9500 Liberty' again tonight *saw it 3 months ago* and had the opportunity to ask if either Prince William County or Arizona legislators bothered to do a feasibility study on the immigration laws - there seemed to be some confusion and a smattering of laughter. The answer I received for AZ was not on this or the other 300 plus laws - Prince William County apparently not.
(Thought about Legislation and Government)
So, here I go delving deeper into the subject of trusting legislation written by lobbyists, corporations and interest groups for communities they don't live in without considering the impact of that legislation. There's logic starting to work here - really it's coming -
ACME, Inc. wants something from government - they have their lawyers etal. write laws to accomplish this goal - they purchase a legislator or two to introduce the legislation - they hire folk to help sell it to insure that it passes - they get the votes, they get what they wrote and legislators who introduced the legislation are credited with it's passage. That's how it works.
So, what if I'm interested in writing a piece of legislation? I have to find a special interest group to sponsor it, lawyers to write it and a legislator to endorse it? As an average American I just don't have that type of money so as a consequence I really don't see myself as part of the process. THAT is what creates APATHY but it's also why I'M A REGISTERED VOTER!
(Thought about Movie)
Tonight was a bit disappointing - the correlation between Prince William County and Arizona is apparent all things considered with a very big difference - the Police Chief in Prince William County didn't have a hard on for getting the Hispanics out of his county, he apparently wanted to 'Protect and Serve' everyone. Go figure? The suggestions were trite at best - start a blog, use youtube, get your message out but do it with civil discussion (the coffee party platform) which all seem like good suggestions right? Doesn't work on HYSTERIA - you have to bring people back to consciousness before you can have a civil discussion and frankly even then it's debatable. The gist of the night was you will just have to go through economic and social disarray until people start to understand that anger is not a solution and start looking for real solutions.
(Thought about Reason)
Hmmm... how long does that take? Arizona is much larger than this Virginia county and frankly people in Arizona seem to have bought into the "I had no choice...GET THEM OUTTA HERE" Brewer election platform. This could be a long, long wait to REASON if the DOJ hasn't presented an effective argument for Judge Bolton.
(Thought about Humanity)
There is a Humanitarian side to this as well as the ad naseum argued Monetary side. Fortunately the Humanitarian side states succinctly "Human dignity is paramount - it trumps money." - I can accept this argument because it's the same argument I had about healthcare and their profit over people. (Profit won in that fight and I still don't have healthcare and I don't like making Health Insurance Companies rich over my illness which BTW is the reason this blog exists).
(Thought about Governor Brewer)
All about Values and Ethics? Safety and Security? Closed Border? NO - I honestly believe after all is said and done IT'S ABOUT MONEY and SB1070 is the only economic 'plan' for Arizona that Brewer owns.
